Strengthening links with Latin America

Edinburgh’s relationships with universities across Latin America are taking on ever greater importance.

This was highlighted during a recent visit to Brazil by British Prime Minister David Cameron, as part of a trade mission to the region, where he was accompanied by representatives of the University's newly established Office of the Americas.

Among the places visited by the delegation was Fight For Peace - a children’s outreach centre in Rio de Janeiro, which combines boxing and martial arts with education and social programmes to help youngsters in some of Rio’s most deprived areas.

Established by Edinburgh alumnus Luke Dowdney, Fight For Peace has established an enviable record for helping some of Brazil’s most vulnerable young people.

Mr Cameron also discussed the Brazilian government’s efforts to improve English language skills amongst students on the Science without Borders programme, which Edinburgh is supporting.

Edinburgh’s new Office of the Americas will be led by Dalinda Perez Alvarez Rodriguez, who has extensive experience of higher education and international engagement.

A Mexican national, Dalinda has held roles with the British Council Mexico; Australian Embassy, Mexico; Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) and the Mexican Foundation for Education, Science and Technology (FUNED).

I am delighted to be heading up the University of Edinburgh’s Office of the Americas. This is a hugely important investment by Edinburgh in what is one of the fastest-growing regions of the world, where high-quality higher education is playing a key role in development and growth.

Edinburgh and Latin America

The University’s connections with Latin America are extensive and long-standing. Partnerships have been established with a range of institutions including UNAM (Mexico), Universidade de Sao Paulo (Brazil) and Universidad de Chile.

Business links are important and include collaborations with Brazil’s national energy company, Petrobras, and BG Group to improve methods of extracting oil from carbonate reservoirs in offshore fields.

Other partnerships include work to address deforestation in the Andes and Amazonian basin and efforts to tackle health problems in Venezuela using remote telehealth networks.

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